shock
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,964 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 9,164 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally also: daze, stupor his mother's death left him in a dazehe was numb with shock
- the violent interaction of individuals or groups entering into combat also: impact the armies met in the shock of battle
- a reflex response to the passage of electric current through the body also: electric shock, electrical shock subjects received a small electric shock when they made the wrong responseelectricians get accustomed to occasional shocks
- (pathology) bodily collapse or near collapse caused by inadequate oxygen delivery to the cells; characterized by reduced cardiac output and rapid heartbeat and circulatory insufficiency and pallor loss of blood is an important cause of shock
- an instance of agitation of the earth's crust also: seismic disturbance the first shock of the earthquake came shortly after noon while workers were at lunch
- an unpleasant or disappointing surprise also: blow it came as a shock to learn that he was injured
shock in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
-
The shock of Audrey's departure had had that effect upon me.
The Little Nugget · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1
-
The face with its gray beard retained no fear, no record of a great shock.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
-
You shock me by such an avowal; and your brother, too, an officer of the King.
Representative Plays by American Dramatists — Love in '76 · Oliver Bell Bunce · Chapter 1
-
The shock of this discovery was so real, that Prince Gnome sank fainting into the arms of his friend.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
-
The shock broke my heart, in such a way that it has never been mended again, but unfortunately did not kill me.
The Mahatma and the Hare: A Dream Story · H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard · Chapter 1